Balancing on one wounded wing

[magelet_daine]

In the strange and miraculously large Grant Park, across the street from the Conrad Hotel, a Rift opens. It's only open for a moment, and it brings a waft of an ocean breeze through it in the short time it exist

Comments

[amuseamused]

Jennifer Rose is out for another walk. Having discovered the joys of off-campus coffee shops, walks are definitely part of her daily routine.

Just like the other people in the area, Jennifer Rose stares when the Rift opens, but that's because she's never seen one before. For some reason, she expected more sparkles. Once the animals scatter though, she notices the girl looks rather confused.

Deciding that the girl hardly looks dangerous, Jennifer Rose walks over. "Excuse me, but you look a bit lost. Do you want some help?"

[magelet_daine]

Daine whirls around and attempts a smile. She's not sure whether or not this girl is a friend, after all, but she'd like to stay optimistic. "Ah, yes, I... I'm not entirely sure where I am. I was near Pirate's Swoop, to visit Lady Alanna?"

She's hoping desperately that this girl can tell her how to get there from... wherever this is.

[amuseamused]

Oh, dear. That was definitely a rift. Or maybe a teleport from England. Jennifer Rose's knowledge of geography isn't that detailed. And do teleports exist? She isn't sure.

"I, ah, don't think that's possible from here. I'm pretty sure you just came through a rift, you see, and those are one-way only. I think you're in a different world now."

[magelet_daine]

"I... but how is that even possible?" she asks, starting to sound a little nervous. "There... there must be a way back, though. If there's a way here, there's a way back, and... Numair and Kit and Cloud, they'll be worried about me!"

Despite the fact that she sent them off, the closer animals move a bit closer. She's upset, they want to fix it.

We can mob her! a squirrel supplies.

No, Daine tells them silently. It's not her fault, she's trying to help. Stay put.

[amuseamused]

Complete unaware of her risk of death by squirrel, Jennifer Rose sighs softly. "I'm sorry, I only know what I've been told by other wanderers. That's what people who come through the rifts are called, by the way. I met someone who's been here a year, and he hasn't found a way back yet."

She nibbles her lip a little bit. "If you'd like, I can show you to a place where some of the other wanderers stay. I'm sure they know lots more than I do." Yes, the Conrad is right over there, and Jennifer Rose could point, but taking in Daine's clothing, she's not sure that Daine knows about things like crosswalks.

[magelet_daine]

Daine definitely does NOT know about crosswalks, though she's understandably wary of the cars. She nods slowly, fiddling with her sleeves. It's just hit her that it's a bit chilly - she wasn't expecting it to be quite this cold, though her cloak, once you notice it under the bow and quiver, is keeping her warm enough.

"I would be very grateful, thank you." She pauses, and offers a hand. "I'm Daine, by the way."

[amuseamused]

"It's no problem. It's on my way back to the dorms." She shakes hands with a smile. "I'm Jennifer Rose. It's nice to meet you."

"It's over this way." She starts walking towards a corner. "If you don't mine me asking, what's your world like?"

[magelet_daine]

"It's... a bit quieter," she says, then shakes her head. "No, not really, it just doesn't have as many of the sounds here. It doesn't have buildings like this - so tall, and made of glass and metal. It's... we have buildings made of brick, or wood, and we travel on foot or horseback, or sometimes in wagons"

Daine smiles crookedly. "I have to admit, this world is... unsettling."

[amuseamused]

"It can be unsettling to people who live here as well. Your world sounds kind of like what ours used to be. There's a lot of science involved in making all this stuff." She can try to explain things if she really has to, but she's never liked science all that much.

"Also, most people in this world tend to only accept things that can be explained by science, so most of them don't even believe that the rifts exist, even when they see someone pop out of one." There's a slight hint of annoyance in her voice, but that's because she's had to severely edit her conversations with her mother.